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Hector Barraza pulls some freshly baked cookies from the oven during ProStart class at Eagle Valley High School. Elway's Steakhouse in Vail recently hosted a fund-raiser dinner for the EVHS program, which teaches kids culinary and business skills.

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Eagle Valley High School's ProStart students studying the art and business of fine dining had a chance to learn from some of the valley's best professionals this weekend when Elway's Steakhouse in Vail hosted a fund-raiser for the EVHS ProStart team.

"Jim Lay from Elway's offered to give our students a fine dining experience," said Elizabeth Dilley, Eagle Valley's ProStart coach and teacher. "It was a god send. I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to raise the funds for something like this."

Eagle Valley and Battle Mountain high schools both have successful ProStart programs.

The money raised during the dinner and an accompanying silent auction will help EVHS upgrade some of the aging equipment that's part of the school's foods and nutrition classes and its ProStart program.

ProStart is a two-year culinary program taught in high schools around the country, sponsored by the National Restaurant Association. Students who complete the program are eligible for scholarships and other opportunities. ProStart combines industry-driven curriculum, competitions and networks with local restaurants.

Eagle Valley has 23 kids in this year's ProStart class. They had two sections last year, but this year had to combine it into one class because of budget cuts. Even then they had to turn some kids away, Dilley said.

ProStart programs in local high schools work with Johnson and Wales and other culinary schools. If kids learn as much as they're supposed to, they can test out of introductory classes, the same as they would in classes like math, English or art.

Dilley's art background is in creating and teaching studio art. She wandered off to New Zealand where she taught adult culinary classes, and she has always had jobs in fine dining.

When a combined foods and art position popped up, she jumped on it.

One of her students is Sam Lay, Jim Lay's daughter. Dilley was bouncing fund-raising ideas off her students one day when a light went off in Sam's head.

Sam went home and talked to her dad, and came back to school telling Dilley, "My dad wants to talk to you about hosting the fine dining experience."

"It has turned out to be such a blessing," Dilley said.

Local kids interested in learning the basics of how to play hockey can get the pointers they need without raiding their parents' pocketbooks.

This Saturday, Nov. 3, Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation District is offering a free Learn to Play Hockey Clinic for kids ages 5 to 15 years.

"This clinic teaches the basics of hockey from how to put on gear to skating and shooting," said Sheryl Staten, WECMRD Eagle area manager. "It's for people who have never played hockey, but wanted to give it a try. Players must be able to skate forward at least half the length of ice in order to participate."

The clinic is planned at the Eagle Ice Rink from 2:20 to 3:30 p.m. Participants should bring a helmet, warm clothes and gloves. Additionally, if they have them, they should bring ice skates, hockey sticks and hockey gloves. Some equipment will be available for use during the event.

For additional information or to register, visit www.wecmrd.org or call 970-328-5277.

This one-day course puts students behind the wheel of their own cars for an intensive handling and training session. Hosted by the Edwards Rotary Club, the program costs $75 for the day and includes lunch.

Only 30 spaces are available, so early registration is recommended. The course will take place at the Eagle County Regional Airport on the Vail Valley Jet Center tarmac. Participants should have their license in order to participate (or be at least 15 1/2 and close to getting their license). Contact Linda Hill, linda@hillaevium, 970.471.1594 or Joe Hoy, joseph@sheriff.eagle.co.us, 970-328-8509 for more information or visit www.streetsurvival.org and then click on schedules/registration for additional information and to register.

• Don't forget to tune in for America's Funniest Home Videos at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, to see Eagle resident Phyllis Johnson.

• The VVF Youth Foundation urges everyone to register for the sixth Annual Turkey Trot. The trot happens on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 22. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and the race begins at 9:30 a.m. from the Eagle-Vail pool. There will be prizes for the best costume and dogs are welcome. Pre-registration is now open and the cost is $10 per person. All proceeds benefit VVF's Youth Foundation PwrHrs after-school program and the Eric Spry Memorial Scholarship.

• The Halloween Candy Buy Back returns to the valley Nov. 1 at Steve Oakson, DDS General Dentistry in Gypsum and at Bishop Orthodontics in Edwards. Children can sell their Halloween candy for $1 per pound up to 5 pounds. The candy is then sent as care packages to U.S. Troops through Operation Gratitude. Oakson Dentistry is at 620 Red Table Drive in Gypsum and can be reached at 524-1105. Bishop Orthodontics is at 34237 U.S. Highway 6, #105, Edwards, and can be reached at 926-2666.

• The Gypsum Creek Middle School Holiday Craft Fair is planned Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check out the show for hand-made gifts, artwork and more.

• It's time to fall back this weekend. Daylight savings time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, so set back your clocks one hour when you go to bed Saturday night and enjoy a little extra sleep.